Scheduling rules for modifying scheduling templates in an infusion center to reduce patient wait time: a discrete event simulation approach
研究提出六种基于历史数据和专家意见的调度规则，通过离散事件仿真评估其对输液中心排班模板的修改效果，发现所有规则均显著减少患者等待时间，其中四种规则在优化模板基础上进一步改善。
Infusion centers often face variability in patients’ needs for resources and limited capacity. These conditions can result in long patient wait times and adversely affect patient experience. Balanced appointment scheduling throughout the day plays a crucial role in managing patient wait time. Modifications to scheduling template are often required to account for variable factors in the system. In this regard, scheduling rules can be used as an effective method to adjust the scheduling templates, which allow for more flexibility in appointment scheduling to minimise the impact of variability of the process on patient wait times. In this study, new scheduling rules are proposed using historical data analysis and expert opinion. Afterward, a discrete event simulation model is developed to evaluate the impact of proposed scheduling rules in modifying scheduling templates to reduce patient wait times. The results indicated that all scheduling rules significantly reduced patient wait times compared to the current practice, and four out of the six scheduling rules significantly improved patient wait times for the scheduling template derived from the optimization approach. The findings support the use of rule-based modifications to existing scheduling templates as a practical, data-informed decision-support approach for reducing patient wait times in infusion centers.